2000 No. 100

RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

The Radioactive Substances (Basic Safety Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 2000

Made

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

Coming into force

The Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 19721 and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and extent1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Radioactive Substances (Basic Safety Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on 13th May 2000.

2

These Regulations extend to Scotland only.

Amendment of the Radioactive Substances Act 19932

1

In section 15(1) (further exemptions from sections 13 and 14) of the Radioactive Substances Act 19932 after the words “clocks or watches” (where those words first appear) there shall be inserted the following:–

a

where the total quantity taken together of each of the radionuclides listed in column 1 of Table A below present in the clocks and watches on any premises does not exceed the amount set out in column 2–

TABLE A

Radioactive material

Relevant value

Tritium

109 becquerels

Promethium 147

107 becquerels

Radium 226

104 becquerels

or

b

where

i

the total quantity of the radionuclides listed in column 2 of Table B below present in each such clock or watch of the type listed in column 1 of that table does not exceed the amount set out in column 3–

TABLE B

Type of clock or watch

Radioactive material

Relevant value (becquerels)

i

Luminised time measurement instruments3-

a

worn or carried on the person

Tritium

Promethium 147

2.8 × 108

5.5 × 106

b

not worn or carried on the person

Tritium

Promethium 147

3.7 × 108

7.4 × 106

ii

Special luminised time measurement instruments4

Tritium

Promethium 147

9.3 × 108

1.9 × 107

iii

Watches containing gaseous tritium light sources5

Tritium

7.4 × 109

iv

Radium luminised timepieces6-

a

wristwatches

Radium 226

3.7 × 103

b

alarm clocks

Radium 226

5.5 × 103

c

special time measurement instruments

Radium 226

5.6 × 104

  • and

ii

no more than five items falling within Table B which constitute radioactive waste are present on any premises

SARAH BOYACKA member of the Scottish ExecutiveSt Andrew’s House,Edinburgh

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which extend to Scotland only, amend the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (1993 c. 12) in order to implement in part the Basic Safety Standards Directive (Council Directive 96/29/Euratom) in relation to the disposal or accumulation of radioactive waste arising from clocks or watches.

Section 15 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 is amended so that the further exemptions from sections 13 and 14 of the Act provided for in section 15, in relation to the disposal or accumulation of radioactive waste arising from clocks or watches, are limited to circumstances–

a

where the total radioactivity on any premises does not exceed the relevant reporting levels set out in column 2 of Table A to Annex 1 of the Directive; or

b

where specified limits on the quantity of radioactive waste and the types of clocks and watches are met.

The levels set out in Table B of the Regulations are those allowed by The International Standard document ISO 3157:1991(E) “Radioluminescence for time measurement instruments – Specifications” a copy of which may be obtained from The Environment Protection Unit, Radioactive Waste Team, 1 J(N), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ